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G8: super-heroes... or super-zeroes?
They didn't don their super-heroes outfits, and they certainly weren't very heroic. The G8 wrapped up their summit in Japan with feeble words and little action.
“The G8 came, talked and failed to conquer the greatest battle we face, the fight to end poverty and inequality” Ana Maria Nemezo, GCAP Philippines
- The G8 don their superhero outfits, but can they -- will they? -- fight the battle against extreme poverty?
This year, the G8 communiqués reflect how completely out of touch with reality this group of leaders are on the main issues related to ending poverty and inequality.
The lack of any real discussion on biofuels in relation to the food price crisis is appalling. References to health, education and water are, sadly, not supported by adequate resources and a timeline commitment. While the G8 pays lip service to the MDGs their commitments suggest that even these minimalist goals are seriously at risk of being achieved by 2015.
However, these characters still have time to show their mettle.
At a special meeting of the United Nations this September, world leaders, including the G8, will be measured against their commitments to halve world poverty by 2015.
Some have worked to meet their promises – but many have walked away hoping the world would forget. Now, the drive to meet the Millenium Development Goals is in jeopardy.
Watch this space. Keep coming back to our blog for updates on the next activism round: September, New York City.
Read GCAP's reaction to the G8's closing communiqués: G8 fiddles while world burns
